What is the Teacher Exchange?

The Teacher Exchange - an initiative under the Schools for Schools umbrella - allows international educators to volunteer in northern Ugandan through a six-week summer program. Created to enhance present educational models, and to establish long-term learning opportunities for both western and Ugandan teachers, educators engage in team teaching, information sharing, and skill building conferences - all with the purpose of generating collaboration among teachers from around the world.

Invisible Children developed the Teacher Exchange to support our Schools for Schools partners as they work to bring their classrooms in northern Uganda to a competitive standard, from the inside out. Teachers in northern Uganda have limited opportunities for personal and professional development. Classrooms in the north are typically characterized by huge student numbers and often complicated by a lack of space, a lack of furniture, a lack of textbooks and resources. As the Schools for Schools Program works to address problems with space and supplies, the Teacher Exchange provides a dynamic opportunity to boost the morale and build the capacity of both the international and Ugandan participants.

Invisible Children seeks dedicated educators whose skill-sets include work in the core subjects of Mathematics, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Geography, Social Studies, and English Language Arts. Applicants should have (or be in the process of obtaining) a teaching credential and/or a Master's degree. We are specifically interested in teachers with expertise and experience working alongside youth ages 12 and up (the secondary system in Uganda begins at the US equivalent of 7th grade).

For further questions, email Amy at acordileone@invisiblechildren.com

“My greatest inspiration has been learning to do things differently through team teaching. My students’ confidence in me has risen and I now see myself as a global teacher.”
— Okidi George, Awere Secondary School

“During the program, opportunities for cultural exchange gave me exposure to look at the world from a wider dimension and a sense of acceptance. I was also able to share my experiences in the war with someone who was always there to listen and this gave me great relief. I felt honored to be chosen to participate.”
— Abwot Helen, Gulu High School

"I definitely believe that I learned more from my Ugandan students and my co-teacher Irene than I think they will ever learn from me. I joined their community as the outsider and they welcomed me with open arms. I was constantly learning new facts about the students, their culture and different teaching strategies on a daily basis. It is not an easy task to teach one hundred and twenty two 12-year old girls, but Ugandan teachers make it possible and that is something I truly admire. They astounded me how they creatively stretched their resources and managed to do accelerated work, despite their lack of resources. The students, teachers and the school as a whole is an inspiration!"
--Margot Fitzsimmons, American Teacher